A correlative study of electroencephalography and computed tomography in partial complex seizures in adults

Abstract

To further elucidate relationships between the EEG and computed tomography (CT) in partial complex seizures (PCS), we retrospectively reviewed the EEGs and CT scans in nonselected, predominantly male patients with refractory PCS. We further correlated EEG and CT results with clinical data. All 78 patients in the study had EEGs and CT scans. The time span between the two procedures was 6 months or less. The ages of the patients ranged from 25 to 80, with an average of 51 years. Seizure chronicity ranged from 1 to 60 years, with an average of 15 years. Statistical analysis revealed a trend for unilateral CT and EEG abnormalities to be on the same side. There was no significant relationship between the location of abnormalities on EEG and on CT. The greatest degree of disagreement between CT and EEG occurred in patients with normal findings or diffuse atrophy on CT. There was no significant difference in the age between groups defined by different EEG categories (normal, right-sided, left-sided, or bilateral). The average age of patients with bilateral CT lesions was greater than that of patients with other CT lesions. This observation may reflect the influence of aging rather than the epileptic process on CT findings in PCS. We conclude that surface EEG and neuroimaging measure complementary aspects of cerebral pathology in PCS.